Laramie is a university town with the Cowboys, a busy downtown and a short, intense summer. It is also one of the few Wyoming cities that runs its own food program. This guide was rewritten in October 2026 from the city’s current forms.
Plan review, handled. Before the City of Laramie licenses a truck, it wants a plan review: the layout, the equipment list, and the water and wastewater plumbing. We provide the build documentation, plumbing schematics and equipment specs your health department asks for, and we build to pass the inspection the first time. Most of our Wyoming trucks are built at our Denver shop, Mile High Food Trucks; see their Laramie food truck builder page and the Wyoming permits guide. Call or text 719-722-2537.
Building a food truck for Laramie? See what a fully-equipped, inspection-ready truck actually costs with our free build & cost calculator.
The health license
The state food license under W.S. 35-7-124 is $200 new and $100 a year to renew, runs one year from the date it is issued, and comes from either the Wyoming Department of Agriculture or a local health department. You need one license, not two.
The City of Laramie runs its own food safety program, so trucks based in the city license through the city rather than the state. Call the city’s food program for its plan review requirements and current fees.
The Laramie city permit
Laramie’s current vending permit covers park vending under chapter 5.76 of the municipal code: a $50 application, valid 1 May to 1 October, with $1 million and $2 million liability insurance naming the city. Motor vehicles and trailers are not allowed in the parks, only hand held displays and pushcarts, although the city manager may designate spots where a truck lawfully parked on the next street can sell into a park.
Outside those spots there is no vending from streets, sidewalks or other public right of way, so food trucks in Laramie work private property with the owner’s permission and permitted events. Confirm the mobile vending license fee with the City Clerk when you apply.
Fire inspection
Laramie Fire inspects trucks that cook with grease or produce smoke. Inspectors look for a Type I hood with a UL 300 suppression system serviced every six months, Class K and ABC extinguishers, propane cylinders secured outside the cab with leak tested lines, and a propane alarm.
Sales tax
Albany County’s rate dropped to 5 percent on 1 July 2026 when its specific purpose tax ran out, and voters renewed a 1 percent tax in May 2026 that brings it back to 6 percent. Check the Department of Revenue’s current chart before you set prices.
Where trucks sell in Laramie
University of Wyoming football and campus events, downtown’s Laramie Main Street events, breweries, Jubilee Days in July and private catering.
In order
License through the City of Laramie’s food program. Pass the fire inspection. Line up private property locations with written permission, or a park vending spot if you run a cart. Register for sales tax.
Common Reasons Food Trucks Fail Laramie Inspections
- Plan review submitted without commissary. The most common stop-the-clock issue. Get the letter first.
- Wastewater tank undersized. 15 percent rule applies.
- Operating on UW campus property without a UW agreement. The city license doesn’t override the university’s right of first refusal policy.
- Operating without the city vending license. Health permit alone isn’t enough. Both are required.
- Suppression system off-tag. Six month inspection cycle.
- K-Class extinguisher in the wrong location or missing. Within 30 feet of the cookline, accessible without crossing fire.
- Cold holding equipment can’t make 41°F under load. Especially common during Laramie’s hot summer days.
- Person in charge can’t answer questions. Inspector will probe on reportable illnesses, allergens, TCS food.
- Vending in a residential zone without proper permitting. Laramie’s vending ordinance has zone restrictions.
On video: the truck we built for Laramie
Frequently asked questions
Can food trucks sell on the street in Laramie?
No. Laramie does not allow vending from streets, sidewalks or other public right of way, except at spots the city manager designates beside parks. Trucks work private property and permitted events.
Can I park my food truck in a Laramie park?
No; park vending permits are for pushcarts and hand held displays. The $50 permit runs 1 May to 1 October.
Who licenses food trucks in Laramie?
The City of Laramie runs its own food program for businesses in the city.
Related guides
Wyoming food truck permits · Cheyenne · Casper · Gillette · Rock Springs · Sheridan · Jackson
Building a truck for Laramie
We build every truck to pass the plan review, the health inspection and the fire inspection on the first visit: a Type I hood with suppression installed by a licensed company, a three compartment sink and a hand sink with hot water, tanks sized for a full day, and propane in secured cylinders with a leak detector. Wyoming winters are hard on trucks, so we heat and insulate water lines and tanks on every Wyoming build. We built a jerk chicken truck for Laramie. Custom food trucks start at $55,000 and trailers at $40,000. Call or text 719-722-2537 with your menu.
Jacob Varghese
Zion Foodtrucks
719-722-2537
Zion Foodtrucks builds custom food trucks, trailers, and concession trailers from our shop in Monument, Colorado and delivers them ready to pass inspection across the Mountain West. Owner Jacob Varghese and our team work with first-time owners every day, sourcing the vehicle and handling the full build so you do not have to. Questions about permits or your build? Call or text Jacob at 719-722-2537 or see our custom build services.
Free Food Truck Permit & Inspection Checklist
We put together a printable checklist covering every permit and inspection a mobile food business typically needs. Tell us where to send it and it is yours.
Next steps: free build & cost calculator · 2026 food truck cost guide · food truck financing
Already Have a Truck? We Do the Compliance Work Too
Passing an inspection is one thing, staying current is another. We handle the recurring items out of our Colorado shop:
- LP gas pressure testing, $350. Required annually, and again after any modification.
- Fire suppression inspection and service, $300. The code interval is every 6 months, not annual, which catches a lot of operators out.
- Hood and exhaust cleaning, with the written report and logbook entry inspectors ask to see.
Booked together they are one visit and one day off the road instead of three. Call or text 719-722-2537.
Ready to build your truck?
We design and build custom food trucks and trailers compliant with the regulations on this page. From a single phone call to keys-in-hand in 6 to 8 weeks for most builds.
Built in Woodland Park, Colorado. Delivered to operators in CO, AZ, NE, MT, and WY.